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This is a minimalist craft-paper dispenser: two little 1x2 uprights holding a 1/4" dowel that a roll of kids' craft paper spins on, with the roll feeding down and out under a bottom board you tear the paper against. It's about the simplest useful thing you can build — a length of 1x2, one dowel, and eight pocket screws — and it's done in under an hour.
The build is two end assemblies joined by a bottom board. Each end is an L or U of 1x2 with a hole drilled for the dowel; a 3/8" spade bit gives the 1/4" dowel a little room to spin freely. Pocket screws (set for 3/4" stock) make clean hidden joints, or countersunk 2-1/2" screws work if you don't have a jig.
The one dimension that matters is the gap under the bottom board: leave 3/4" of clearance so the paper can pass under and feed out for tearing. Too tight and the paper jams; the gap is the whole function. Slide the dowel through the roll and into the end holes and it's ready — no glue on the dowel so you can reload. Mount it on a wall or leave it freestanding on a craft table. A great quick gift for a kid who draws.
| Item | Qty |
|---|---|
| 1x2, 4 ftEnds and bottom board. | 1 each |
| Wood dowel, 1/4 in, 24 inRoll spindle — no glue so it's reloadable. | 1 each |
| Pocket-hole screws, 1-1/4 in | 8 each |
| Wood glueFor the frame joints, not the dowel. | 1 bottle |
| FinishOptional. | 1 each |
Overall cost: $. Lumber prices vary by region, species, and season, so we give a band rather than a figure we would only be pretending to know.
| Part | Qty | T × W × L |
|---|---|---|
| End uprights1x2Dowel hole drilled with a 3/8" spade bit. | 2 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 6" |
| End bases1x2 | 2 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 8" |
| Bottom board1x2 | 1 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 20" |
| Dowel1/4 in dowel | 1 | 1/4" × 1/4" × 24" |
Buy 2 boards at 8 ft.
1 board
1 board
Assumes 8 ft stock, a 1/8" saw kerf, and buying each part at its own width. Change the board size or kerf on the full board plan →
Build each end assembly with 3/4" pocket holes and 1-1/4" pocket screws, or 2-1/2" screws and a countersink bit. Drill the dowel hole in each upright with a 3/8" spade bit — the extra room over the 1/4" dowel lets the roll spin freely.
Join the two ends with the bottom board, leaving a 3/4" gap under it so the paper can pass under and feed out for tearing. That gap is the whole point — too tight and the paper jams.
Slide the dowel through the paper roll and into the end holes — no glue, so you can lift it out to reload. Sand and finish if you like. Mount it to a wall or leave it standing on the craft table.
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